New Chivas chairman takes up post

Laurent Lacassagne has taken up his new role as chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers.

Laurent Lacassagne (front and centre) at the Chivas Brothers distillery

A graduate of the HEC Business School in Paris, he joined Pernod Ricard in 1988 as internal auditor.

In 1997, after a stint at Besserat de Bellefon, he was named group finance director before moving to Australia in 2003 as CEO of Orlando Wyndham.

He was chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard Asia Pacific from 2006 to 2008 when he returned to Europe as chairman and CEO there.

He said of his new appointment: “I am delighted to be joining Chivas Brothers at this very exciting and dynamic period for our business.

“I look forward to continuing the commitment and investment behind our prestigious portfolio of Scotch whisky and gin brands which is best placed to take advantage of growth opportunities around the world.”